Getting rid of freeloaders

One of the greatest threats to the health of poultry is mites – bird mites.

If birds are allowed to enter and roam the chook run area it’s likely you will end with with a mite infestation, this is particularly so in the summer months. This is one of the reasons why I built a annex extension onto the chook run.

Fortunately chooks are programmed to get rid of their freeloaders – they dust.

Speckles and Lilly, the new Pekins about 20 weeks old and been with us for about one month now. On the right is Misty and Ruby, they are Wyandotte’s about three years old.

We have had a lot of rain lately but they are able to still dust in dry soft dirt under the garden gazebo. This is one reason why I haven’t paved that area yet.

ALDI: Ceramic Fan Heater $19.99

Older kid was over one evening and spotted the heater, turned it on and checked it out. Nice heater…so she took it home. We do have central heating but sometimes you like a bit extra, we have other Tangi’s so not to worry.

Last week ALDI had heaters including a similar ceramic like the one we once owned.

• 1800W ceramic fan heater with oscillating function
• Adjustable thermostat
• Fan only setting
• Safety tip over switch
• Overheat protection

The latest offering of this type of heater all seem to have the oscillating feature, wonder what they will come up with for next year.

Anyway it works well, just need to hide it when not in use…

Cold miserable morning – sleep in

We have two dogs and three cats, now that winter is more or less here they are not that keen some mornings to get moving. Morning of Tuesday 24th of May was particularly quiet?

 

Pixie in the main bedroom.

Chook run – removing temporary divider

When we came home with the new Pekins (Speckles and Lilly) early in May I partitioned off one end of the main chook run to separate them from the older resident’s -  Misty and Ruby (Wyandotte’s).

This gives them their own space for a few weeks  (with water, feed and their own sleeping quarters) to get used to their new surroundings and for the older ones to accept the newcomers.

Another printer purchase

Had to purchase another printer!

The Canon MP640 which is not even 12 months old has a blocked print head. Tried all the usual things even used an ultrasonic cleaner – no go. So off to the market and purchased a Canon iP4850 for $98 bucks – not bad. This is a photo printer with 1pl droplets and without all the extra user stuff to keep the price down. No display of any kind, no card readers, copy or scan. It will do printable DVD/CD media and duplex.

So I got what I was after for less that $100, a printer that will print excellent 4 x 6 photos and has a 2-way paper feed, A4 in the tray and photo paper at the rear. I must remember to print something a couple of times to keep the nozzles flowing!




I have been using this beast for a couple of week now and very happy with the purchase. Prints lovely photos on ALDI photo paper, and the prints come quickly. Paper handling is superb.

Sign for the front door

Made up a little sign to place near the front door.

Speckles & Lilly photos

They are very friendly, iwe sit down to take a break from what I am doing they will look to hop on my lap. It’s best to have the tea towel handy in case they poop.

Lilly top and Speckles.

New Pekins – housing

For housing new arrivals I make use of a timber dog kennel that I scrounged off a neighbours nature strip during a hard rubbish collection. I replaced the front with a piece of melamine, note the  smaller entry more suited for little chooks.

Housing new Pekins 2011 – continued

In the previous post I blogged about heating the dog kennel to keep the little Pekins warm until they feather out some more.

I monitor the internal and external temps with a Projection Alarm Clock Temperature Station that I purchased from Bunnings for $10 – a clearance item.

Feline texting problems

Luna was having issues texting her feline friends, I advised her she had the phone upside – problem solved.

ALDI: Telescopic Tree Pruner $26.99

• SK5 steel, non stick coated cutting blade
• Includes saw attachment
• Telescopic aluminium pole
• Ideal for sawing or lopping hard to reach places
• Extendable up to 255cm

New Bantam Pekin girls

I have already posted that the new Pekins turned out to be roosters which was a real pity because they were very friendly and really clever. We returned them for the two below – definitely girls!

This one is white speckled and we named her Speckles.

Pekins: Exchange boys for girls

This time we definitely have girls!

On the left is Speckles with Lily on the other side.

Chook run annex – tidy-up

You may ask…why do I have an annex adjacent to the main run?
Well…to keep the mites out!

One of the greatest threats to the health of backyard chooks is mites – bird mites. In our area the most annoying backyard birds are doves and minors. If allowed too they will wander into the chook run and when you go to chase them out they fly around like crazy – and drop all their lodgers!

Mites need a host to survive and many of those that are shaken off onto the ground will soon find their way into the chook shed or coop – and onto the chooks at night.

New Pekins are roosters!

 

Sad news, after a month with us we had to return Violet and Speckles as they turned out to be roosters!.

Real pity as they were very friendly and clever - in particular Violet.